§ 11. Mr. Lewisasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance the number of people in the Parliamentary Constituency of Lewisham, North who were, at the latest convenient date, on National Assistance; and how these figures compare with a similar date over the last five years.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI regret that separate figures are not available for the Parliamentary Constituency of Lewisham, North. The local area office of the National Assistance Board serves the whole of the borough of Lewisham, which, as the hon. Gentleman may be aware, also includes the Constituencies of Lewisham, West, and Lewisham, South.
§ 12. Mr. Lewisasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance the number of people in the Parliamentary Constituency of Carmarthen who were, at the latest convenient stated date, on National Assistance; and how these figures compare with a similar date over the last five years.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI regret that separate figures are not available for the Parliamentary Constituency of Carmarthen, parts of which are served by no fewer than five area offices of the National Assistance Board.
§ Mr. LewisIf I put the five constituencies down on this Question and the previous Question, will the Minister get the reply to it?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterNo. The hon. Gentleman has misunderstood my answer. It is not a question of five constituencies but of five area offices of the National Assistance Board.
§ Mr. LewisThe Minister misunderstands my supplementary question. If I put a Question down, including the five areas which cover the five constituencies, will he give me the answer to the Question?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterIt is most likely that I shall be able to do so. I did not misunderstand the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question. The word "constituency" crept in, for reasons which I fully understand.